Friends of Library Book Sale coming to its end--

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is fortunate to have advocates for its future and well-being such as its "Friends of the Library."  This non-profit organization supports the library in a few ways and assisting with the purchase of new library material as a goal.  That said, it is the sole fund raiser goal for the Friends' annual spring book sale.

Jumbo in nature to attract the greater public--vacant public space is secured for the book sale for several days so people can canvass the display areas to look for books about crafts, travel, sports, religion, children's and young adult books among others.  Tomorrow marks the end of this spring's book sale with a bonus reduction of existing items (books, DVDs, music CDs, albums, etc.).

I'm glad this was the second year in a row I was able to volunteer to help in the Friends book sale, on a warm Sunday afternoon no less.  I'd like to think that the Friends group appreciates seeing library staff pitch in to make this project work.  And I was pleased to receive a freebie for volunteering for an afternoon shift.

For the bibliophile, there are a lot of items donated which may include some nice surprises.  My nice surprise was to find a copy of  Gillian Flynn's mystery-themed Gone Girl.  I had hoped to read a copy of this title at some time--a still very popular book--but I wasn't sure when.  Now, my chances have vastly improved.

No doubt, I want the book sale to succeed.  It is great to see the interested people come in, find good things and make purchases. The library benefits.  The public benefits.

Book club favorite title 2012--

During an earlier book club session this year, I asked those present which book selection for the past year was their favorite.

I was curious which title stuck with them and decided it would be good to get a consensus of the best liked mystery novel.  I didn't know quite what to expect among the various books we read (and some prodding was needed to remember them all).


Mark de Castrique
(photo by blogger)

As I recall, I asked for written responses on paper slips and the runaway favorite--after some brief discussion--was Mark de Castrique's  The 13th Target.  It was his newest book, published earlier in the year.  The book follows  Russell Mullins, a former Secret agent now working bodyguard assignments for a private security company. His currently assigned client is found dead and he is convinced the matter deserves further investigation than the police's conclusion of a suicide.  Matters compound for Mullins with a murder and tracking a suspicious money trial from the Federal Reserve.

The book club also benefited from a visit from this local author who was the guest for the November book club session.  Those in attendance found him a pleasant, affable guest.

Kudos for Walter Mosley!

After the rush (it appeared to me), I finally joined Facebook and started "friending" old classmates and the like.  I also---again, in time--spend time with my profile for the account and added book "Likes" in the favorite entry.  Under book, I added Walter Mosley, author of the great "Easy Rollins" series and others.  Ezekiel "Easy" Rollins is a Los Angeles private detective on the job from the 40s through the 60s.

Walter Mosley
(photo from author's website)



To my surprise last month, I received a Facebook message about Mosley as a Facebook fan.  Mosley was recognized on the list of "New York's 100 Most Important Living Writers" from the Flavorwire website.  The entry notes his various awards along with his writing range including "science fiction, literary fiction, non-fiction, and at least one book of erotica."   

I've been impressed with Mosley's novels and  broad creative reach for a while.  It's good to see him get this recognition. 

Book club discusses "These Dark Things"

 The book club's September selection was Jan Merete Weiss' Italian mystery These Dark Things.  The book cover says at the bottom under the title: introducing the Captain Natalia Monte series set in Naples.   

Jan Merete Weiss
(photo from Google) 

An ancient practice of praying over skeletons in the city's crypts,  performed by the Jesuits centuries ago, is still continued some parishioners today with the assistance of those faithful who go to wash  the bones of loved ones as an act of sanctification.  One such "bone washer" goes about this unique duty when she discovers a young woman in the crypts--a recent murder victim.  Enter Captain Monte and her partner Sergeant Pino Loriano into a case where the murder investigation and suspects range from the academic, the clerical and the local organized crime (or the "Camorra").  

And set in Naples, the book pulls back the cover to show an old world city that does not take too many steps away from its past.   

Comments about the novel included the following: 

• so many shires are located throughout the city
• one said the use of inserting Italian language and phrases broke up one's concentration to understand the story (if you didn't know the language) but another thought the book did a good job of sharing Italian language and translations 
• Natalia has an interesting set of dilemmas at the end of the book 
• the book's writing was choppy
• the book's title can have multiple meanings with the darkness of the hearts of  people involved in the story and even how the bones of skeleton turn dark after a period of time
• the book didn't grab the attention of one book club attendee
• a map of Naples would have helped the reader.

Getting it the crime novel right--

While reading books for the book club and having our book club discussions, I find myself either flipping to the back or the front of the book to check on the "Acknowledgements."  I'm curious how the writer gets to develop "the voice" for the novel to give an authentic sense of place or the right dialogue.  I guess you'd have to have the assistance or support of those who either work in the field or had worked in law enforcement--for mysteries in this case.  Of course, that is not the same in every case (listed in print, anyway) but I look for it.



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That might even become a discussion point during the book club sessions to see whom the author credits in acknowledgements.  Does it appear to be a back bone for what is in print or a deficient that more help is needed? 

As it goes, a number of us carefully watch television to follow crime on the news, serialized dramas and some news magazine shows.  Though it's not that these readers and TV watchers want to join law enforcement to live out the printed page or screen, there are questions about what crime investigation is actually like.  And enter the writer to build that bridge.

So what's out there for the writer who might want help to write realistically about police crime investigations?  A former policeman has offered and an answer in the creation of a new company.  Crime Writers Consultants created by Sgt. Derek Pacifico offers writers help through consultations or a two-day writing program.  Pacifico had retired from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department in Southern California after working nearly 6 years in homicide and handling roughly 200 murder investigations.

When I heard about this on public radio, I thought "aha!"  How many writers work this hard to try to get it from the horse's mouth (so to speak).  I just wonder about that attention to detail.

A Gem of a Writer

Yesterday a patron stopped at the library desk to ask for a copy of the Agatha Christie standout title The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.  He commented that it is said to be one of the best mysteries ever as he had his finger placed in a book of his possession (I guess that book mentions Roger Ackroyd.)  and the Library Journal description (as shown on Amazon) mostly agrees. 


Agatha Christie
photo from Google

It says, "written in 1927, [it] is considered the best and most successful of the early mysteries.  It met with no small outrage when it appeared, as it uses a plot device many readers thought 'unfair.' There is a full complement of characters populating the cozy English village of King's Abbot: Major Blunt, Colonel Carter, Miss Gannett, the butler, the housekeeper, the narrator, Dr. Sheppard, and his know-it-all sister (the precursor of Miss Marple, according to Christie), and, of course, the redoubtable Hercule Poirot and his little grey cells. There are clues with a capital C to mislead us, and the listener gets so involved with these red herrings (or not) that the very simple truth eludes the puzzler."

That book request reminded me how Christie received nationwide acknowledgement earlier in the month at the Democratic National Convention.  Key note speaker San Antonio mayor Julian Castro spoke of his grandmother learning English by "reading her Agatha Christie novels late into the night."  

All and all, Christie has been a gem as a writing treasure in more ways than one.

Recommended reading--

"What's the best book you've read this year?" asked the librarian patron.  He was a one-time regular book club attendee and I was glad to see him so I took a few moments to contemplate on the question.   

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 I was certain he was asking about mystery novels and this question came earlier this month, roughly midyear through the monthly sessions of book club mysteries for the year.  The last title read was Jo Nesbø's The Snowman which stuck with me but the part of the ending left me cold (pun intended).  I liked the somewhat offbeat Killed by the Whim of a Hat by Colin Cotterill but considered it might be closer to an acquired taste. 

I finally decided to suggest Elly Griffiths' The Janus Stone as a satisfying mystery and story to pass the mustard. And in part, the recommendation was for the reader's taste too--a nice English mystery with a likable amateur sleuth.  This situation also repeated itself so later with a former co-worker who likes mysteries and I suggested this same title to her.  Again, a good read but also likely to fit her reading tastes.